The right tools are an integral part of getting any job done. In the world of digital content tools are plentiful, so finding the right one for you can be tricky. That's why we ask the experts what tools they use to get their jobs done. In this month's installment, we talk to Ashley Taylor Anderson, Director of Content, Ceros.

Allen Press and ESA Develop Workflow System for Journal

The Ecological Society of America (ESA) launched its newest journal, Ecosphere (www.esajournals.org), using a rapid-publication workflow system developed in conjunction with Allen Press. Ecosphere is a peer-reviewed, online-only, open access publication that welcomes submissions from all sub-disciplines of ecological science.

Working with Allen Press, the ESA created a fully electronic workflow that uses the flexibility of XML to streamline production, review, and publication of accepted papers. The system allowed the journal to begin publication just 4 months after the project planning stage began, according to the ESA.

With the electronic workflow, manuscripts are submitted to ESA Publications via EcoTrack, a derivative of the Allen Press-supported peer review system AllenTrack, where they undergo peer review. Decisions are made within 4-6 weeks. Since the journal will have no subscriptions, authors pay a one-time fee in lieu of traditional page charges.